On May 7th, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, Dr. Michael R. Ott, and I engaged in a discourse with Jeremiah Morelock on the subject of “Exclusive Identity Ideology” for the Critical Theory Research Network. This discourse began as a reflection of Dr. Siebert’s biographical story “The Friendly Jewish Lady of Frankfurt,” and ventured into numerous other issues regarding nationalism, fascism, identity politics, the Alt-Right and the ongoing crisis of capitalism which has exasperated identity politics throughout the West. Videos of the discourse have been uploaded to YouTube by The Critical Theory Research Network. Please enjoy the videos and support the Critical Theory Research Network as well as the work of Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, Michael R. Ott, and myself, Dustin J. Byrd.

We are planning to publish a co-authored book rooted in this discourse with Ekpyrosis Press

I’m pleased to announce that the new edition of Islamic Perspective Journal, Vol. 22 Winter 2019, is now available for download. My article, Return of the Volksgemeinschaft: On Islam and European Identity, is included: IPJ22

The full story is here:

Sabbatical Opportunity Cultivates Scholarship

The Rudolf J. Siebert lecture series entitled “St. Thomas More & American Politics” has been added to the Rudolf J. Siebert Audio-Visual Archive. These lectures were delivered from January to March of 2009, and examine St. Thomas More’s most famous work “Utopia,” and how it relates to the political landscape of 2009, especially the global financial meltdown of neoliberal capitalism, as well as the election of Barack Obama, and the role of religion within these occurrences.

St. Thomas More lecture series by Rudolf J. Siebert

Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, critical theorist, mentor, and dear friend has retired from teaching at Western Michigan University after 54 years. Since he came to WMU in 1965, he has educated thousands of students throughout the world in the Critical Theory of Religion and Society. Rooted in the Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School, as developed by Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Walter Benjamin, Herbert Marcuse, Erich Fromm, Jürgen Habermas, and others, the Critical Theory of Religion and Society continues to view the world through a dialectical lens, as it cross-pollinates other disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Critical Theory of Religion and Society is a future-oriented remembrance of human suffering, misery, and oppression, with the practical intent to bring about a more reconciled, peaceful, and justice-filled future society. WMU will honor Dr. Siebert with a conference on November 16th, 2019, entitled “Critical Theory and the Study of Religion: Conference in Honor of Rudolf J. Siebert.” It will be held at the Fetzer Center at WMU and is open to the public.

If you would like to send him a retirement letter, his email is: rudolf.siebert@wmich.edu

See the WMU’s article about Dr. Siebert’s retirement below:

Rudolf J. Siebert Retires from WMU

Also see the Rudolf J. Siebert Audio-Visual Archive:

Rudolf J. Siebert Audio-Visual Archive

Here’s the link to Dr. Siebert’s personal webpage:

Rudolf J. Siebert

Dr. Siebert’s 92nd Birthday Speech:

92nd Birthday Speech

Mlive article on Rudolf J. Siebert and his retirement:

Rudolf J. Siebert, a German soldier during WWII, made theory of peace his life’s work

WMU Article on Siebert’s Retirement and November 16, 2019 Conference:

Retirement and Conference

Conference Video

Retirement Speech from Dr. Siebert’s Retirement Open House celebration – 12/27/2019

Retirement Speech

WMU’s Article and Video on Dr. Siebert’s biography and work:

WMU Siebert Article and Video

Ekpyrosis Press is a new academic press dedicated to publishing books and articles that advance the following three principles:

1. Know Thyself (γνῶθι σεαυτόν): Ekpyrosis Press is engaged in a rediscovery and revivification of Western thought, rooted in the three seedbed societies: Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome. This is especially important in the face of growing nationalism, which seeks to use Western heritage as a weapon against other peoples. The West is strongest when it knows itself; it does not fear others when it does.
2. Inter-civilizational Discourse: Ekpyrosis Press is dedicated to engaging in robust discourses with other civilizations, including the Muslim World, with the practical intent to lessen misunderstandings, hatred, and war.
3. The Hopeless (Die Hoffnungslosen): Ekpyrosis Press is dedicated to the defense of the hopeless and the marginalized in Western and Resten societies. Strength does not flow from barbarity, rather it is a feature of solidarity with those who find themselves the victims of the slaughter bench of history.

To learn more about Ekpyrosis Press, as well as to see our forthcoming titles, please visit us through the below link:

Ekpyrosis Press

Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert is a critical theorist of religion and society from Frankfurt, Germany. At the age of 15, he was drafted in the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), and later fought in the Wehrmacht (German Army). Nevertheless, having been a part of the Catholic Youth Movement, he remained opposed to the Nazi war goals. Upon being captured by the American Army, he was taken back to the United States as a prisoner of war. In the P.O.W. camp, he was introduced to the Frankfurt School for Social Research, and eventually sent back to Germany to help democratize it. Later, in the 1960s, after having studied theology, history, psychology, literature, and philosophy, he returned to the United States to begin teaching on the east coast. In 1965 he accepted a position in the Department of Comparative Religion at Western Michigan University, where he has taught for 54 years. Dr. Siebert, now in his 90s, has taken what he calls an “early” retirement from teaching as of August 2019, but continues to write and publish on the Critical Theory of Religion and Society.

In these podcasts, produced by Rob Byrd’s Moondog Saturday Morning Show, Dr. Dustin J. Byrd interviews his Doktorvater (Doctor-Father), Rudolf J. Siebert, about his long and assorted biography. From Frankfurt to Kalamazoo, from one war to the next, it’s all here:

Life and Times of Rudolf J. Siebert – Part 1

Life and Times of Rudolf J. Siebert – Part 2

Life and Times of Rudolf J. Siebert – Part 3

Here’s an article about Rudolf J. Siebert and his service in World War II (Western Herald)

WMU Professor “did his duty to protect citizens” in Germany during World War II